CVE-2021-40703 in Premiere Elements
Summary
by MITRE • 09/28/2021
Adobe Premiere Elements version 2021.2235820 (and earlier) is affected by a memory corruption vulnerability due to insecure handling of a malicious m4a file, potentially resulting in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2025
Adobe Premiere Elements version 2021.2235820 and earlier versions contain a memory corruption vulnerability that stems from insecure handling of malicious m4a audio files. This vulnerability falls under the category of memory safety issues and aligns with common CWE classifications such as CWE-125 out-of-bounds read and CWE-787 out-of-bounds write, where improper bounds checking allows attackers to manipulate memory regions beyond their intended boundaries. The flaw occurs when the application processes specially crafted m4a files that contain malformed data structures, leading to unpredictable memory corruption patterns that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The vulnerability requires user interaction to be successfully exploited, meaning that an attacker must convince a target to open a maliciously crafted m4a file within Adobe Premiere Elements. This interaction typically occurs through social engineering tactics such as phishing emails, malicious websites, or compromised file sharing platforms. When the vulnerable application attempts to parse the malicious file, the insecure memory handling causes buffer overflows or other memory corruption issues that can potentially be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the currently logged-in user. This represents a significant security risk as it could allow attackers to install malware, steal sensitive data, or gain persistent access to the victim's system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with a potential foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the target environment. The memory corruption can be particularly dangerous in creative workflows where users frequently handle multimedia files from various sources, increasing the attack surface for exploitation. Security researchers have noted that this type of vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through legitimate application functionality, making it difficult to distinguish between benign and malicious file processing. The vulnerability's presence in a widely used multimedia editing application means that successful exploitation could affect a broad range of users, from individual content creators to professional video editors who rely on the software for their work.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of Adobe Premiere Elements to the latest version that addresses the memory handling issues. Users should also implement defensive measures such as disabling automatic file preview for potentially malicious file types, implementing strict file validation policies, and maintaining up-to-date antivirus solutions that can detect known malicious m4a file patterns. Organizations should consider network segmentation and application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized execution of potentially malicious files, while also monitoring for unusual file processing patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution and T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers would leverage the application's legitimate file processing capabilities to execute malicious code. Regular security awareness training for users can help reduce the risk of successful social engineering attacks that might lead to exploitation of this memory corruption vulnerability.